Renegades vs. Spartans 6/6/09

June 7:

By CHUCK GREENWOOD,

Morning Journal Correspondent

COLUMBIANA - A 24-field goal with just seven seconds remaining in the game spelled defeat for the Crestview Renegades as they fell 30-27 to the Cuyahoga Valley Spartans in minor league football action.

The loss drops the Renegades to 2-1 in the Grassroots Football League, while the Spartans march out to a 4-0 league mark.

The loss offset a combined four-touchdown performance by former Beaver Local Beaver standouts Nick Carfagna and Ethan Russell. Each of the former Beavers tallied twice as the Renegades fought back from an early 14-0 deficit to eventually take a 24-14 lead.

"We were down for the first time all season," said Carfagna. "We had given up some points early in the game, but we just fought back."

Carfagna pulled in passes of two and seven yards as the Renegades trailed just 14-12 at intermission.

Russell stepped to the forefront in the third quarter, taking over at quarterback after former Crestview Rebel Jordan Reynolds suffered a separated shoulder in the first half.

Russell scored on a runs of 57 and 13 yards in a span of 4:13 in the third frame as the Renegades jumped out to a seemingly-safe 24-14 lead.

'Ethan is an amazing athlete," said offensive coordinator Ed Ondrey. "He's new to the system, but he's a ballplayer. Nick is a great athlete, who shows great discipline on the field."

Russell, who has been with the team less than three weeks, started game at left cornerback before taking Reynolds' spot with Reynolds shifting to Russell's cornerback post.

Having played in a ball-control offense at Beaver Local, Carfagna is enjoying the Renegades' wide-open offense.

"It's everything I imagined it would be," said Carfagna with a smile. "I'm actually tired after the games from running all those pass patterns. It's been a nice change of pace. Plus, it's nice playing with Ethan again. We were in the defensive backfield together at Beaver Local."

Carfagna is transferring from Muskingum College to Coe College in Iowa.

The loss offset a 153-yard rushing performance by Columbiana's Brian Warchol. The speed merchant toted the ball 14 times, his longest run being 66 yards.

Injuries were a major factor in the game as numerous Renegades were forced to the sidelines with injuries. Particular hard hit were the offensive and defensive front lines. Reynolds, who was inserted back in at quarterback 4:17, suffered a possible broken wrist as he was hit as he attempted to throw a pass with just less than a minute remaining.

Bubba Taylor (calf) and Mike Kornack (knee) did not dress due to injuries.

Newcomers to the Renegades this week were Shane Reed (East Liverpool) and Jarrod Osborne (Beaver Local).

"This is a young team who gave us everything they had," said a proud, but disappointed Ondrey.

"We just couldn't finish when we had the lead. Cuyahoga's a veteran team and we're not. Our guys did everything we asked them to do."

The Renegades have next week off, returning to action on Saturday, June 20, when they host the Canton Hurricanes at Crestview High School. The Spartans host the Pittsburgh Blue Devils

Saturday at Cleveland Lutheran East High School. The Renegades defeated the Blue Devils 25-6 in the season opener on May 16.

CUYAHOGA 14-0-0-16-30
CRESTVIEW 6-6-12-3-27

SCORING
CC - Antoine Jackson, 98 punt return (Brandon Sexstella kick)
CC - Ageel Seals, 33 run (Sexstella kick)
CR - Nick Carfagna, 2 pass from Jordan Reynolds (kick failed)
CR - Carfagna, 7 pass from Jordan Reynolds (pass failed)
CR - Ethan Russell, 57 run (kick failed)
CR - Russell, 13 run (kick failed)
CR - Jordan Reynolds, 39 field goal
CC - Antoine Jackson, 46 pass from Demonte Clemmons (pass failed)
CC - Demonte Clemmons, 20 run (Sexstella kick)
CC Branden Sexstella, 24 field goal

CU CR
First downs915
Total Yards230 440
Rushes-yards18-6139-313
Passing169137
Comp-Att-Int 8-21-010-23-2
Punts 8-42.55-40.4
Fumbles-Lost0-0 2-2
Penalties-Yards4-406-52

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INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

RUSHING-CUYAHOGA Ageel Seals 8-46, Lamont Thomas3-2, Chos Kincaid 3-(-4), Jerry Minisstale 2-(-5), Demonte Clemmons 2-22 CRESTVIEW Brian Warchol 14-153, Jordan Reynolds 10-42, Stefan White 1-0, Shane Reed 7-28, Eric Whittenberger 2-13, Ethan Russell 5-77

PASSING-CUYAHOGA Jerry Minisstale 5-17-68 yds, Demonte Clemmons 3-3-101 yds, CRESTVIEW Jordan Reynolds 8-19-129yds-2int, Ethan Russell 2-4-3 yds

RECEIVING-CUYAHOGA Chos Kincaid 1-10, Joe Reeves1-4, Demonte Clemmons 3-54, Antoine Jackson 3-101 CRESTVIEW Eric Whittenberger 1-9, Jarrod Osborne 1-36, Douglas Douglas 2-15, Nick Carfagna 4-73, Ethan Russell 1-5, Jordan Reynolds 1-(-1)

INTERCEPTIONS-CUYAHOGA 2, CRESTVIEW 0

FUMBLE RECOVERIES-CUYAHOGA 2, CRESTVIEW 0